The History of the Formation and the Development of the Midwives’ Association in Osaka in the Meiji Era

The history of the Midwives’ Association in Osaka in the Meiji era is not well-known because there are limited historical records and detailed research on the subject is scarce. This paper endeavors to delineate the formation, management, and maintenance of the Midwives’ Association in Osaka, which was one of the earliest midwives’ associations established in Japan, and investigate what the historical significance was for midwives in Osaka in its initial stage. The history of the Midwives’ Association in Osaka in the Meiji era can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, from 1888, the middle of the Meiji era, the midwives who were well-known women in Osaka at that time and public officials of the Department of Hygiene cooperated to start up the midwives’ association, and attempted to improve it as a women’s trade organization for about 10 years. Both of these groups at that time wanted to exclude unlicensed midwives and thought that an organization would regulate the system and be beneficial to the improvement of midwifery skills. After the association was formed, the midwives slowly took over the management but often relied on the officials when they faced difficulties managing the organization themselves. The second stage began in 1899, when the legal regulations for midwifery practices were issued, which was the epoch of the midwifery business and the renewal of the Midwives’ Association in Osaka: the name, rules and leaders of it were changed. A few years later, a conflict arose between the president (a male medical doctor) and the vice-president (a midwife) because of a difference of opinions. The president left the association and the vice-president took over the presidential post. The management by the midwife continued for about 10 years. It must have been worthwhile because the association, under the leadership of the midwife, laid the foundation for women’s autonomous roles in management. In addition, by the end of the Meiji era, the midwives had become more clearly aware that they had to protect the scope of their work. This awareness preceded the beginning of the law-making movement by midwives in Osaka by about 15 years